Matamata is in the traditional area of the Ng?ti Hau? M?ori tribe. In 1865 Josiah Firth negotiated with Ng?ti Hau? leader Wiremu Tamihana and leased a large area of land, including the future site of the town. He named his estate Matamata after the Matamatap?, which was near the present-day settlement of Waharoa (rather than present-day Matamata)
